Thomas B. Russell

Thomas Banister Russell (born November 15, 1945) is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. He also served as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 2015 to 2022. He served as a judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court from 2016 to 2021.

Education and career

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Russell received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University in 1967 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1970. He was in private practice in Paducah, Kentucky from 1970 to 1994.

Federal judicial service

On September 14, 1994, Russell was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky vacated by Edward Huggins Johnstone. Russell was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 1994, and received his commission on October 11, 1994. He served as Chief Judge from 2008 to 2011. He took senior status on November 15, 2011. He served as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 2015 to 2022. He served as a judge of the Alien Terrorist Removal Court from 2016 to 2021. He retired from active service on September 1, 2023.